Cables connecting assembly



April 28, 1970 A. RUSSIN CABLES CONNECTING ASSEMBLY Filed March 27, 1968 INVENTOR ANDREW RUSSIN AGENT United States Patent U.S. Cl. 339-44 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector for cables of the shielded signal wire transmission line type having a centralconductor and an outer conductor of the like. The connector device is particularly adapted to accommodate a plurality of coaxial cables and to provide connection with printed circuit cards, boards and the like. The connector device comprises a plastic housing of dielectric material holding a common ground conductor element and a plurality of signal conductor elements. There is provision for enabling the connection of the cables outer shield wire conductor with the common ground element and the cables central conductor signal wires with the signal conductor elements. The connector device is equipped with cables strain relief means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to electrical connectors for signal wire transmission lines having a central conductor and an outer conductor. The latter is generally of braided wire forming a tube which surrounds the central conductor and from which it is normally separated by a flexible tube of insulating material which maintains the central and outer conductors in a concentric relationship.

Connectors for coaxial transmission lines provide a means by which the lines are terminated and the inner and outer conductors may be permanently or detachably connected to connector elements which transmit the signals from a source to a receiving means.

It is important that such connectors be constructed so as to minimize losses or irregularities in the transmission of energy from the source to the receiver means. They must also be constructed so that their electrical performance characteristics are not affected by wear or by strain resulting from the handling of the coaxial transmission lines, as when equipment to which they are connected is moved from place to place.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel connector for the terminal ends of coaxial transmission cables which is rugged and minimizes losses or irregularities in the transmission of energy from the transmission cable to the connecting device, or vice versa.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a rugged and reliable connector assembly easily adaptable to wiring of printed circuit cards.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a connector assembly which is producible within a reasonable range of manufacturing tolerances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the objects are achieved by a coaxial cable connector assembly comprising a molded connector block of dielectric material and providing support means for a common ground element and a plurality of signal conductor elements adapted for mounting on a printed circuit board, card or the like. The connector block has provision to receive the ends of a plurality of coaxial cables with the shielded or outer conductors of each cable being connectable to the ground element and the inner or signal conductor element being ice ' connectable to the individual signal connector elements.

The block includes a serrated portion against which the cables are held by means of a retaining pin to provide a strain relief function.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single figure is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coaxial cables connecting assembly, according to the present invention, including a partial sectional view showing the manner in which the coaxial cables are attached and held within the assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, there is shown in accordance with the present invention an improved coaxial cables connecting assembly. The assembly comprises a molded plastic block 10 which functions to support a plurality of individual signal connector elements 11, a common ground connector element 12 with connective positions corresponding to the individual signal connector elements 11 positions. The signal connector elements 11 and the ground connector element 12 are of a form suitable for fabrication by sheet metal stamping techniques from a metal having good electrical characteristics. The molding of the block is in accordance with known manufacturing techniques and the completed product provides a block which is simple and rugged. The connector assembly is adapted for attachment to a printed circuit board 20, or the like.

A typical coaxial cable 13 comprises a concentric arrangement of a central signal conductor element 14, a layer of insulating material 15, a braided ground conductor 16, and an outer layer of insulation 17 which surrounds the braid 16.

Prior to connecting the coaxial cables with the connector elements supported by the block 10, it is essential to strip the layers surrounding the inner conductor 14 by predetermined amounts to enable proper connections as indicated by the drawing. The coaxial cable 13 is then inserted into the block 10 so that the inner conductor 14 passes through an aperture in an individual signal element 11. The inner conductor 14 is then bent in an upward direction so as to reside against the signal conductive element 11. The inner conductor 14 may then be soldered to the conductive element 11 or crimped thereto by bending a tab 11a so as to forcefully hold the inner conductor 14. During a coaxial cable insertion operation, the braided conductor 16 will pass through an aperture in the ground signal connector element 12. Connecting the braided conductor 16 with the ground signal connector 12 may be accomplished by well-known soldering techniques.

After electrical connections have been made for all of the coaxial cables, the. cables are individually placed into individual cable receiving cavities 10a and against the serrated portion 10b of the molded block 10 and held in this position by means of the roll pin 18. This arrangement provides a strain relief for the coaxial cables 13 and their connections with the electrical connectors 11 and 12 to thereby preserve the connections from harm or deterioration by movement of the equipment or pulling of the coaxial cables 13.

After the coaxial cables 13 have been connected with the electrical connectors 11 and 12, the assembly is then ready for locating an attachment to a printed circuit board 20 or the like. The protruding portions 11b of the individual connector elements 11 and the portions 12b of the grounding connector element are adapted for insertion into and connection with a printed circuit board 20 or the like.

The coaxial cables connecting assembly herein described is particularly well adapted as an input/output signal connecting means for printed circuit board applications. The unique and novel assembly disclosed herein is particularly useful in the present-day developments of microminiaturization of circuit technology. While the description has been shown and described with reference primarily to coaxial cables, it is to be pointed out that twin lead, tri-lead cables and the like are equally adaptable for connections through the disclosed assembly.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector assembly for joining a plurality of coaxial cables with a printed circuit board or the like, each cable being of the type having a center conductive element surrounded by insulating material and an outer conductive element, the assembly comprising:

(a) a block of insulating material provided with:

(1) a plurality of coaxial cable receiving cavities,

each having a serrated surface therein;

(2) a pin receiving aperture in the block and further including a holding pin for holding the coaxial cables in engagement with the serrated portions of the cavities to provide a strain relief function;

4 (b) the block of insulating material holding:

(1) a common ground connector element and having a plurality of conductor receiving apertures therein, each aperture adapted to receive the conductive element of a coaxial cable and including the outer conductive element;

(2) a plurality of signal connector elements, each having a conductor receiving aperture therein and arranged in axial alignment with the apertures in the ground connector element and adapted to receive the center conductor element of the coaxial cable and for electrical and mechanical attachment therewith; and

(c) said ground and signal connector elements including projected portions adapted for mounting to a printed circuit board or the like.

7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,283,177 5/1942 Brainard 339-103 2,970,183 1/1961 Anderson 174-78 3,160,456 12/ 1964 OKeefe et a1. 339-92 3,179,912 4/1965 Huber et al. 339-17 3,205,295 9/1965 Davidson 174-32 3,215,975 11/1965 Kinkaid.

3,243,760 3/1966 Dupre et al. 339-153 3,264,599 8/1966 Kinkaid 339-17 RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner J. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 339-103, 143, 177 

